As a celebration of Paolo and my first year in our new home in the Italian Alps, I’m sharing my favorite photos of our daily life here in the Italian Alps aka Alps Life. For those new to ALOR.blog, Paolo and I live in Bardonecchia, Italy. While most of the pictures seen below are from our daily hikes in Bardonecchia, there are also photos of our favorite vacation spots in the Italian Alps including Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, and the Dolomites.
Pictures of the Italian Alps
Bardonecchia is a small town of about 3,000 people north of Torino (Italy’s fourth-largest city) in the Italian Alps. Here’s Bardonecchia along with some of our wild neighbors as seen from our many hikes in the Italian Alps.
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Nearly every picture (with the exception of Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta & the Dolomites) was taken in a location reached by foot just outside our front door. Up here in the Alps, we mostly get where we’re going just like this. A smile on our faces, one foot in front of the other.
One of the best things about living in the Italian Alps is that there are four truly distinct seasons. Spring, summer, fall, and winter each get an equal share of the calendar. Yet temperatures are surprisingly mild year long. Here’s a look at Alps Life hiking through the seasons with our personal photographs.
Summer in the Italian Alps
Summer days are typically pleasant with average temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius (68°F) and 25 degrees Celsius (77°F). Let’s put it this way. A year ago we finished our home renovation in the Italian Alps and did not install air conditioning. You don’t need it up here!
Our favorite summer happy hour in the Italian Alps? Hiking up to Ristorante Pian Del Sole for a drink with a view. Pretty sure those 200m (656 ft) of elevation burn any calories we consume!
On the opposite end of the spectrum is winter.
Winter in the Italian Alps
January is the coolest month in Bardonecchia with an average temperature of 6.7° C (44.06° F). For the most part, the town itself is shielded from brisk winter winds by the Alps themselves. Snow in the Italian Alps can vary year to year, but on average Bardonecchia gets 22cm (8 in) a week in the winter months. As winter comes around, Bardonecchia swells to about 30,000 people between part-timers and ski tourists. The volume of visitors shines a light on just how much fun living in the Italian Alps can be in winter.
A quick video of how tranquil a winter hike in the Italian Alps can be!
Spring in the Italian Alps
Spring is when the Italian Alps are secretly at their best. Hiking is a pure delight with fields or wildflowers leading to mountain top hiking trails with views for miles. It’s like having a national park all to yourself. If you’ve ever dreamed of twirling around in the Alps like the opening scene in the Sound of Music, come visit the Italian Alps in Spring!
Fall in the Italian Alps
My birthday being in early November, fall has long been my favorite season. Yet I’ve honestly never seen a more beautiful fall than one in the Italian Alps. First, tree leaves turn yellow, gold, orange, and finally red. Then, fall colors slowly creep up the Italian Alps day by day until they finally take the pines. Daily walks feel like stepping into a Van Gogh.
Although mountain peaks in Bardonecchia can surpass 3,500 m the town itself sits at around 1,312 m (4,304 ft) making for some of the most amazing hikes in the Italian Alps. Nature lovers, just imagine walking out your front door at 1,302 m, and anyway you turn there are countless trailheads inviting you up the mountain. Take for example Poggi Tre Croci (point of three crosses pictured below) a local favorite that elevates to 2,115 m. The views are truly from the top of the world.
What Living in the Italian Alps is Like
In a few words, Alps Life is about living a balanced, peaceful life surrounded by nature. It’s about having freedom of time to work out, work on projects, and play. Here’s a glimpse of a day in our lives this last winter in Bardonecchia. Enjoy! Better yet, come see for yourself.
References
- Bardonecchia, Italy Weather & Climate Report — Weather and Climate.com
- Average Snowfall in Bardonecchia, Italy — Snow Forecast.com
